India's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's another home failure in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum established in the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the prospects of several players - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Disappears
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this season, under a new captain, pointed to a smooth transition after the close together retirements of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the home season boosted that belief, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the side of the highly disappointing showing in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations took a hit, and multiple individuals hoping for long red-ball careers were revealed to be still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
It was the second whitewash at home suffered by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming India's hopes of making the decider of this season too.
From number three in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - including against the mighty Aussies. Yet the failures against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason India have struggled so much in Tests at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on surfaces that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an exception.
Currently, India seem beatable on home turf.
Against the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they curated to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as rivals exploited them better, surpassing the home team's players when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to perform better in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has taken away the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is validity in each argument, it still does not explain why the team's showings at home have seen such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players point to a complicated issue, not only a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have highlighted several failings post the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the side.
Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - came up short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not well enough to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis targeted not only the cricketers - team selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, spurred on by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
